Even the euphoria of a League Cup win didn’t dissuade the 28-year-old from breezing his way past journalists and microphones at Wembley as smoothly as he had gone past Bradford players.

But Routledge can’t escape the spotlight this season, his form prompting questions whether he will be back at Wembley chasing caps to go with cups soon enough.

We await the answers, but it has long been established that this is the best season of Routledge’s inconsistent career, fulfilling a potential that was always obvious.

And his performances as one of three wingers in Michael Laudrup’s side has led to growing speculation that he could be one of the Three Lions in Roy Hodgson’s England squad.

Hodgson’s No.2, Ray Lewington, has been keeping a close eye on Routledge, familiar with the wideman’s ability having been in roles at Palace and Fulham, two of his the Londoner’s eight previous clubs.

It has led to speculation the much-travelled talent could be in line for call-up for summer friendlies against the Republic of Ireland and Brazil, if not sooner with squads for this month’s World Cup qualifiers in San Marino and Montenegro named next week.

“It’s a nice boost, but my only priority is playing well for Swansea,” said Routledge having been lured in front of the media ahead of the trip to take on West Brom at the Hawthorns this afternoon.

“Are there players in the Swansea squad that deserve an England chance? Possibly, but it’s not down to me or us to say that, it’s up to the England manager to come and watch and see who’s capable of earning a place.

“It’s the same with me: it’s down to the manager and what he feels.

“But it’s not the No.1 thing on my mind; the priority is playing well for Swansea and as long as I do that then the accolades might come along, but it’s still the priority.

“That’s all I’m concentrating on and anything else is a bonus.”

It’s an unsurprising shying away from the subject from a player who never courts too much attention in public, even if his style of play and the confidence gained from regular starts has seen him grab it this year.

And perhaps he is mindful that such England chatter never materialised into selection when the same speculation surrounded Nathan Dyer earlier this season.

But, whereas Dyer has had to bide his time for chances under Laudrup, Routledge has taken his.

Hailed as “poison for defenders” along with Dyer in the early days of the Dane’s reign, the arrival of Pablo Hernandez did not budge Routledge from the side.

Instead it has been Dyer who made way, a surprise in itself given his form under previous boss Brendan Rodgers and Routledge’s lack of it under the same man.

“I got the opportunity to play from the start of the season and I just carried it on from there really,” said Routledge rather modestly.

“It’s nice for the manager to show faith in me from the first game of the season, and, to be honest, he’s played me quite regularly ever since. When the manager puts faith in you and you perform it’s very nice.

“Everyone will tell you it’s good playing all the time because when you’re playing you can get into a rhythm.

“When you’re in and out it becomes difficult.”

Indeed, the only movement with Routledge has been the freedom in which he has revelled in as part of the intriguing, flexible ‘three winger’ formation Laudrup has developed.

Primarily it sees Routledge occupy the central attacking midfield role, but it becomes difficult for observers – let alone defenders – to keep track of the interchanging that goes on during games.

Bradford were flummoxed by it while this afternoon’s opponents were torn apart by the same adventurous vehicle in the 3-1 Swansea win at the Liberty back in November, a game that saw Routledge score twice and a win that could have easily been 6-1.

“We’re all capable of nice neat touches, beating a player, finding the final pass and, this season, scoring goals,” said Routledge, although it’s unclear whether he will be back wide today with Ki Sung-Yeung pushing for a midfield recall, while Garry Monk is expected to continue to partner Ashley Williams in Chico Flores’ absence, Kemy Agustien unavailable due to a thigh problem.

“It’s a hard role playing in the middle, but you can rotate and most of the time be fresh when you get the ball.

“That works so well at the moment.”

Given his struggle for stability previously in his career – one highlighted by the fact that the new Swans deal signed earlier this year was his first time he has extended a contract at a club – there is little surprise in Routledge’s answer to which of the three roles is his preference.

“Whichever one gets me on the pitch,” he says.

“I think we’re all comfortable playing in whatever role the manager picks us in.

“If you see it on the pitch, you’ll se Nathan go out to the left, you’ll see me go out to the right and Pablo in the middle. We literally rotate constantly.

“I think we’re all comfortable and playing in any role.”

Yet it’s unfair on Routledge, whether he’s comfortable saying it or not, to lay all the credit for his fine year down to formations and selections.

Laudrup wanted something a little different from his wingers this season, asking to tuck in and take on defenders more inside than under Rodgers and adding more to the goal threat.

Routledge accepted the challenge from day one, suiting his intelligent play and ridding himself of the self-doubts that seemed to affect his game at times.

But, hinting at the shame he does not talk more, Routledge does offer a great insight at how it is hard not to better your game from one of the best at it.

“It’s always nice when a manager shows faith in you, it doesn’t matter whether he’s been a world-class player before or is any other man,” he said of Laudrup, one of Europe’s greatest during his playing days. “He says his bits and pieces and plants ideas in your head, but you pick up most of it when you see him in training.

“I can’t explain the tips, but it’s the second line of attack.

“Michael shows you once and straight away you understand because it’s quite simple and very effective.”

“Here I can’t show you. On the field it makes sense but talking about it doesn’t.”

And that’s Routledge. A player whose feet is doing all the talking for him right now.